OXFORD – Oxford fans will always remember the night it renamed its football field in honor of retired teacher and football coach Tony Abbott. The game; however, was something Blackhawks supporters would prefer to soon forget.

Visiting Sidney gashed the Oxford defense for 613 total yards of offense, and sent the club to its third loss in as many outings Friday night, 46-6.

Sidney senior quarterback Patrick Vibbard ran for two touchdowns and passed for 217 yards and two more scores. The Warriors’ offense sliced through the Oxford defense with ease scoring touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions.

“We didn’t do a good job of playing our responsibilities,” said Oxford coach Ray Dayton. “When that happens against a good opponent like Sidney, this is what happens.”

Sidney averaged nearly 14 yards a play in the opening stanza marching for three quick touchdowns. Vibbard hurt the Blackhawks with option keepers out of the spread formation, and his first carry netted 32 yards to reach the Oxford four. Two plays later, Vibbard scored from one yard out.

Oxford set out to drive for the tying score taking the ball on its first possesion from near midfield to the Sidney three. A big fourth-down completion from Angelo Gonzalez to Cameron Heggie extended the drive, but Gonzalez’s fourth-down pass in the end zone was knocked down by Sidney’s Brandon Bessett.

With 97 yards of real estate in front of it, Sidney traversed it way to the endzone for its second TD in less than three minutes. Vibbard had two big first-down completions to Dillon Rutenber and a 30-yard completion to Tanner Schunk to flip the field position. Schunk completed the scoring excursion on a 15-yard sweep to the right.

Oxford drove inside Sidney territory two more times in the first half, but never threatened to score. Early in the fourth, the Blackhawks had a drive halted at the goal line when Warriors defender Trey Larson intercepted a Gonzalez pass at the goal line.

“Yeah, it would’ve been good to finish some of those drives, but we had some penalties and missed assignments,” Dayton said.

And, Oxford never did figure out how to slow down junior defensive lineman Austin Dean, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder with uncanny speed and strength. Dean was unblockable all night long, and had several tackles for a loss. Dean was also continuously in Gonzalez’s face on passing plays. “Mr. Dean made the difference on the defensive end tonight,” Dayton said.

Down 30-0 at halftime, Oxford fans’ 15-minute break was well worth the price of admission as dozens of former players, students, and Abbott’s former assistant coaches moved to the center of the field for the renaming of the gridiron. Unfortunately, that was one of the few highlights for the Blackhawks.

“It’s especially tough losing on Tony Abbott’s night,” Dayton said.

The Blackhawks did find some success running the ball in the second half as senior Nik Hansen finishing with 156 yards and the team’s lone score – a 37-yard dash in the fourth. “We’re happy with Nik and we’re still feeling it out with him as a first-year player,” Dayton said. “We like him, and we like Nick Neer. We have to find a way to get those two on the field at the same time, and that’s part of the fun of coaching.”

Oxford looks for its first win this week against Candor.

Score by quarters

Sidn. 18 12 8 8–46

Oxf. 0 0 0 0–6

Scoring Summary

S: Pat Vibbard 1 run (run failed)

S: Tanner Schunk 15 run (pass failed)